5 Things You Should Know About Assata Shakur

Vixen

1. In May 1973, Assata and fellow activist Zayd Malik Shakur were pulled over by New Jersey State Troopers Werner Foerster and James Harper. According to Harper, Zayd starting shooting when asked to step out of the vehicle, while Assata claims the police initiated the gunfire even after putting both hands in the air. Once the violent exchange left Zayd and Foerster dead, an injured Assata was charged with murder that same year and given a life sentence. With the help of allies, she fled to Cuba in 1979, where she remains to this day.